PEACE TALK.

Taranaki Daily News, 26 December 1916, Page 5

PEACE TALK.

PRESIDENT WILSON'S NOTE. WILL BE DEALT WITH BY THE ALLIES. STRONGLY CRITICISED IN BRITAIN. •Received Dec. 23, 5.5 p.m. London, Dec. 22. Mr. Banar Law, replying to Mr. Bylcs, stated that President Wilson's Note will he dealt with after communication with the Allies. The Daily Telegraph recalls that after two years' bloody and devastating civil war the Northern States were without apparent prospect of triumph and had been beaten again and again, How would Americans have regarded such an appeal as President Wilson's if addressed to the belligerents at the time when Vickslmra : i;u' fallen and Gettysburg hud been fought ? The Daily Chronicle says the President bases bis intervention on the ground of humanity, yet he was silent, when Belgium was treacherously and ruthlessly rfttacked, her homes burnea. licr civilians butchered and her women violated. He made ho protest at the Imbv-killinsr at Whithv Pen^n-. ■v.igh or the massacre of half a million Armenians. JTe pilv r.rnt»*t»;l the- massacres on the Luaitania, Aneoriij and Sussex because American citizens perished. It is true that American interests have suffered bv the war, but she lias gained great wealth. The most painful passage in the note is Mr. Wilson's statement that the objects of both belligerents a|e virtually the same. This is a deep insult to the Allies. We do mt ask America for favors, but ask to be allowed to finish our world work. The Glasgow Herald says the Allies have only one dutv —to go nn demandin" cnmnlefe restitution, full reparation and effectual guarantees. The Liverpool Post says that Mr. Wilson's appeal is maladroit unless his well-meanins efforts are diroated towards eliciting from Germany the concrete terms of peace she has withheld. The Manchester Guardian says that the German people should bo told England does not intend the utter and final destruction of their country. The Allies have already intimated to Germany that they are readv to hear her views upon peace.

London newspauws arc discussing the possibility that Mr. Wilson is initiating embargo legislation in Congress, with the view of preventing the export of war goods to the Allies.

STATEMENT BY MR. BONAR LAW. A REPLY TO MR. WILSON, (Renter;. London, Dec. 22. In the House of Commons Mr. Bonar Law said the nation was suffering terrible agony because she had trusted Germany. He asked could a German promise of peace be more binding than the treaty to protect the neutrality of Belgium. What would be the position if peace were settled on the German basis of a victorious army? The dangers and miseries from which the world was suffering were only curable by making the Germans realise that frightfulness did -not pay. Britain was fighting for security and peace in times to come, The war would have been fought vainly unless they made sure that no sirigle man or arc up of men would be able to plunge the world into the miseries of war. Mr. Bonar Law's short impromptu r-peeeh was fervid and passionate in intensity. It is regarded as an indirect but unmistakable reply to Mr. Wilson's Note.

A MISGUIDED NOTE. > SIR JOSEPH WARD'S OPINION. Reuter Service. Received' Dec. 23, 5.5 p.m. London, Dec. 22. Sir Joseph Ward, addressing influential commercial men, deprecated the misguided American note, expressing the opinion regarding the war that we should not allow a suggestion from a great outside country to influence us and knuckle down before the war is over. New Zealand, he said, will stand shoulder to shoulder with the Mother Country until the purposes of the war are carried out. DUTCH OPINION.

WILSON'S TREMENDOUS BLUNDER. HOW GERMANY WILL CARVE THE MAP. Received Dec. 24, 5.5 p.m. Amsterdam, Dec. 53. Dutch opinion generally rpgards President Wilson's action as intentionally or unintentionally unfriendly to the Entente, especially to Britain. The Telegraaf describes the Kotc as a tremendous blunder, and refers to President Wilson's immense tactlessness in seeing no difference between assassins .siul their victims. The first reports from Germany indicate t-h'e relief of the newspaper? supporting Herr von Bethmann-Holhveg. The Frankfurter Zeitung, further discussing the German terms of peace, says that Bulgaria will Ik the dom'nant power in the Balkans by the incorporation or parts of Se.-bia, Rouinania , and .Macedonia. Rounisnia must choose between vassalage to the Germanic Powers and conversion into an Austrian province. Turkey will be confirmed in her European position, and King Constantino rewarded by Serbia being reduced to impotence. INDIGNATION IN CANADA. Ottawa, Dec. 22. Intense indignation against Present Wilson's peace note is expressed in, ®nada. The newspapers bitterly comment on Mr Wilson's suggestion that is acting in the name of humanity, asking what he ever did for humanity or for its benefit in this war. The .note is generally regarded as precluding the United States from having a word to say when the real neace nesotifttioo«. teginjj

AMERICA'S POSITION FORECASTED. , LANSING SPLI TTING STRAWS. THE GERMAN MOVE. A NECESSAItY WARNING deceived Doc. 24, I'.SO p.m. Washington, Dee. M. , The State Department announces , that if peace negotiations result !n a ( league to enforce peace, the Tutted \ States will no longer follow her historic ] policy of avoiding entangling aliiani.es, and will probably ally pan-American with :ertain European Powers. Mr. Lansing- regrets the British interpretation of the Note. He explains lie did not mean t.'iat President Wilson • believes belligerents' objects to be the '■> same, but that belligerent statesmen say the same. Well-informed cin.lps stfite that Germany will answer President Wilson by 1 giving him the paice ti-rins oniiumtially. This is interpreted as hcinj> an endeavor to use America as an agent for secret bargaining, but it is unlikely America will agree. The New York Times says Germany '' must now decide -.vhetliur to propose s terms acceptable to the Allies or con- ■* tinue to fight, subject to the probability that in the not distant future the f United Spates will enter tht War against 1 Germany, for we know that German victory would be the greatest peril to " the United States. *

DELAY IN REPLY. THE PRESIDENT GRATIFIED AND ' HOPEPUI,. HE WANTS TO KNOW. Received Dei, 25, 1.10 a.m. Vancouver, Jee. C 4 The Foreign "Office in London states there is no possibility oi a reply to the German proposal being dispaieiied immediately, owing to the difficulty of communication. It is possible an answer will not be forwarded for ten days.

Washington, Dec. ;!4. At the White House it is officially stated that the President is rather gratified that London and Berlin both criticised the Note, which shows that it is absolutely neutral. When it was sent, it was foreseen tha; the first reception would be' hostile, but the President persists that he has. a right to know the details of what t'he nations expect to attain. For instance, tfould France be willing to quit if the Germans evacuate France and Belgium, or does she insist on retaining Alsaee -snd Lorraine, and demand an indemnity on top of that? He aTao wants to know what is definitfly meant by crushing militarism.

Despite -Press lenders and comments, the President has the utmost faith that the belligerents will come to his way of thinking.

JAPAN'S VIEWS. ALLIES MUST BE UNANIMOUS. Reuter Service. Eeoeived Dec. 24, 5.5 p.m ■ Tokio, Dee. 23. The Foreign Minister declares there will be no peace except on terms whereon t'le A.'lies are unanimous. GERMAN PRESS COMMENTS. Amsterdam, Dec. £*• The Koehrische Volkze.'tung regards the Note as a put-up jcb, to enable America, who has put money at the disposal of the Entente, to secure good terms for her debtors, so as to enable them to repay 'her The Westphalian considers that America is being put up to pull the chestnuts out of the fi:e. President Wilson even threatens as if it was Germany who proposed peace. She doe? not want America's mediation. THE STRIKER HIT. London, Doc. 22. The Rome correspondent, of the Daily Telegraph says that information from tJerman sources indicates that there was a disagreement in the enemy countries on the. peace conditions. Austria and Bulgaria, were the most intractable. Turkey was prepared to make sacrifices in consequence of the discord Germany merely asked for a conference.

Tlie note was intended to demoralise the people of the Entente Powers, but its reception is demoralising the peoples of the Central Rowers. THE KING'S PROROGATION SPEECH. London, Dec. 22. The King's prorogation speech exhorts the Empire to prosecute the war with a single endeavor to vindicate the international rights violated by the enemy and to re-establish European security. AMERICAN PRESS VIEWS. New York, Dee. 22. The New York Times considers that the purpose of the Note is to force Germany to declare her objects, which the Allies have already done. Germany has failed to accomplish her ends and peace is becoming an urgent necessity for her. The Chicago Herald states that British opinion will dwell on the fact that the Note was issued soon after Herr von Bcthmann-Holhveg'a speech. The President must expect all the criticism the (•allies wiJJ carry. The Washington correspondent of the New York Times declares that* despite the unfortunate coincidence of dates, it is ridiculous to suppose the United States has any sympathetic interest for Germany. Mr. Lansing's statement means that the United States fears the resuraption of submarining may force .imericr. to participate. Mr. Wilson's intention to send a peace Note dates back to the sinking of the Sussex. The President realised that if Germany failed to redeem hc-r pledges the United Stafes would be forced to join the Allies.' Mr. Gerard also influenced Mr. Wilson.

The correspondent adds that it is possible to fear that the Allies' complete rejection of Germany's offer will be precipitated b.v tho d'.'r,ateh of the Note, _

OUTBURST OF FURY. GERMAN THREATS AGAINST BRITAIN AND FRANCE. United Service. ' Received Dec, 23, 5.5 p.m. London, Dec, -22. I.e Matin's Zurich correspondent stales hat the Entente's statements mid ■peeohes in regard to Germany's peace iote have provoked a renewed outburst >f fury, with a unanimous call that the iovernnient assume a formidable intensiK'.'it ion of "the v.'ar against Britain and ■'ranee. A CUNNING TRAP. TOW THE GERMANS ARE MANOEUVRING. Renter Service. Keceived Dec. 23 5,,"i p.m. Paris, Dee. 22: Gustnv Herns warns tin: French Socialits that, they are walking into a trap ct by Berlin bv demanding to see the Caiser's conditions of peace. He adds lint Germany will not produce the conitions, which will make the French I'orking-claas shudder with horror, but rill bo such us to make all the peaentry gape with delight, expressing flateritig admiration for France. Germany will offer to evacuate France and Belgium, and then ask if the French are willing to fight to restore Poland and Crnstuntinoplo to Russia "If a pacifist wave fcfflows, you will bave a broken morale, which is the mainspring of France, and that will save German militarism. The.Kaiser will not ask lis for pe.iee. He only wants us to tall: Once (hat starts, he undertakes-to divide and embroil them until a German peace is accepted.

THE GERMANS! HOPE. PEACE DOOR WILL NOT BE SLAMMED. Received Dec. 23, 5.3 juii. The Hague, Dec -_2. German newspapers assert that the German Government anticipates that the Entente's reply will not definitely reject the peace oiler. If the Entente leaves the door open far negotiations with Ger-m.-.iny, the latter will immediately de;lan its principal peace terms.

RUSSIA'S REPLY PROPOSAL UNWORTHY OF COX, I SIDERATIOX. Received Dec, 24, 5.5 p.m. Petrograd, Dec. 23. The Government will reply to the German proposals, rejecting them on the ground of vagueness and insincerity, and »s unworthy of serious consideration.